Giants shift roster, bring back Jones, Parker

SAN FRANCISCO -- Tomorrow's always a new day, but the Giants couldn't wait for 24 more hours to pass before announcing the initial roster moves of their next improvement phase.
Ending days of hinting that the 25-man active Major League roster had to change, the Giants began their overhaul after Wednesday night's 6-1 loss to the A's with the following moves:
• Infielder Jae-Gyun Hwang was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento;
• Infielder Conor Gillaspie was designated for assignment;
• Infielder Ryder Jones was recalled from Sacramento;
• Outfielder Jarrett Parker, out since fracturing his clavicle when he collided with the outfield wall April 15, was activated from the 60-day disabled list.
Other veterans, including erstwhile staff ace Matt Cain, could lose their roles or even their jobs if the Giants continue to implement sweeping changes favoring younger players.
Before Wednesday's game, Giants manager Bruce Bochy withheld comment on the impending alterations until he spoke with the players involved. The overhaul is a direct result of the Giants' plunge from postseason-contender status to last-place dwellers in the National League West. Unwilling to sit idly by, members of the Giants' front office want to identify players within the organization capable of starting a renaissance.
One performer who'll be at the forefront of these changes will be Parker, 28, the Giants' Opening Day left fielder. Bochy said Parker will play all three outfield spots, reflecting the diminished playing time that's probably in store for the likes of center fielder Denard Span and right fielder Hunter Pence.
"It's not like it's going to be the same three guys out there every day," Bochy said.
Jones might receive a chance to establish himself at third base, with Hwang in Triple-A, Gillaspie demoted and Pablo Sandoval still playing himself back into shape. Jones was ranked San Francisco's 14th-best prospect by MLBPipeline.com.
A possible callup from Triple-A Sacramento is left-hander Andrew Suarez, 25, who's 5-4 with a 3.64 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 54 1/3 innings. He's rated 11th on the organization's prospect list.
The veteran starter who appears most vulnerable to moving out of the rotation is Cain, who was promoted to the Majors in August 2005 and is the senior Giant in terms of continuous service. Cain owns a 3-9 record with a 5.37 ERA in 21 appearances.
"We are going to give some of these younger pitchers more time. I can see that," Bochy said. "And the players. I still think it's going to be important that we find a way to play better ball."
Bochy added that the Giants won't completely overlook their veterans, many of whom are signed for next season.
"These core guys, they're going to be back. You just don't shut players down," he said. "It's going to be important that we all stay focused here the last two months. We have a team that's used to playing for a championship. Right now, we know we're in a different situation."
Many of the Giants' leading prospects are already in the Majors or were sidelined by injuries after being promoted to San Francisco.
• Numerous people around the Bay Area reported seeing Sandoval relaxing and doing errands with family members Wednesday, a scheduled off-day for Sacramento. Sandoval, who's batting .240 (6-for-25) at Triple-A, will proceed to Omaha with the River Cats to start a series Thursday.
• Giants right-hander Johnny Cueto visited the clubhouse and admitted feeling fear-stricken upon sensing tightness in his forearm when he pitched a rehab game for Class A Advanced San Jose on Monday.
"The difference this time is it's not as painful as 2015. ... Of course I was scared. I felt the pinch and first thing I thought was, 'Oh my God. I'm going to have a Tommy John here?'"
Cueto added that if the Giants were in postseason contention, "then I would go ahead and fight through it and put up with the pain."